St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-17
WHY SO FEW MARRY.
A New York Philosopher Gives
Two Learned Reasons Why So
Many Men Prefer to Remain

a New York Philosopher Gives
Two Learned Reasons Why So
Many Men Prefer to Remain
Single.
The Epoch.
Two principal causes have led to the
decline in matrimony among fashiona-
bic or would-be fashionable circles in
New York, and to a less. though still to
considerable, degree in some of the
other large cities. The first is the in
creased comforts and diminished ex-
penses of bachelor life; the second is
the over-worship to which we have ac-
cuStomed our women. -
The ayldlty with which suites were
secured i'll the first bachelor apartment
house built in New York soon led to the
erection OF a large number of similar
structures. In these suites of two, three
or more rooms can be had at cost little
exceeding what man used to have to
pay for one large furnished room in a
well-situated lodging house. Some of
these houses have restaurants attached,
and III others the occupants can arrange
with the janitor for the supply of
light breakfast. The number of clubs
has increased almost proportionately
with that of the apartment houses. At
his club the member finds all amount of
comfort, often of luxury, that only an
enormously rich man could furnish for
himself. Here he can dine OF lunch at
a price which little more than covers
the cost Of the provisions. Many of the
clubs have sleeping rooms over the pub
lie ones, and thus offer exceptional adj
yantageS to bachelors. '..t--'
single man, with an income of ST.
5O0 to $1,000 year, can live well and
dress well. If properly started. he can
have an unlimited amount of social
gayety, and an occasional bouquet or a
b0nbOnniere at Christmas is all the re-
turn he is expected to make for the in
Vulnerable hospitalit $ received.
Now, supposing that he is sufficiently
in love with some girl to be willing to
surrender the greater portion of his
little comforts to the desire to make her
his wife, is ne likely to find her willing
to accept him? Most probably not! And
II she should accept him, have her edu-
cation and training been such as to make
her helpmate TO him? Again the an
Swer is negative. In considering the
wherefore OF these negatives, the second
principal cause, before stated, is natur-
ally reached.
The society young lady wants to be-
gin her married life on the same scale
as that on which her parents are ending
theirs. Her parents pet and indulge
her in every way, her bachelor friends
adore her, and she receives almost as
much worship as did goddess in the
days OF Greece and Rome. Very proba-
bly, she is pretty. highly educated, ac-
complished. bright and attracfiye-a de-
li!ghtful partner for dance or fiirta-
ton. and very likely an excellent wife
for an extremely rich man. But ask her
to come down from her pedestal. to be the
helpmeet OF man of modern means,
to cut herself loose from the acquaint-
ances that can only be kept up while
she is wealthy, tOshare in his struggles,
and to rise or sink with him, land she will,
most likely. politely and firmly refuse.
1t is difficult to foresee what the rem
edy for this state of affairs will be.